BRITAIN'S Queen Elizabeth will not attend the evening reception following the wedding, leaving the younger members of the family to celebrate late into the night.

She and the Duke of Edinburgh will leave London after hosting a lunchtime reception for the newlyweds at Buckingham Palace. They are expected to spend the weekend in Windsor.

It means the queen will not hear Prince Harry's best man speech, allowing her grandson to be a little more risque.

She will also miss Michael Middleton's father-of-the-bride speech which he will give in front of 300 friends and family.

Prince Charles is hosting the private black-tie reception, also held at Buckingham Palace, which will start at 7pm and be followed by dinner, speeches and dancing.

The singer Ellie Goulding, best known for her version of Elton John's 'Your Song', will be among those performing at the event. The English soul singer Joss Stone is one of the guests and may be persuaded to pick up a microphone.

Party

The catering is being overseen by chef Anton Mossiman, with speculation that the guests will enjoy crab to start, followed by lamb.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have invited 100 friends, while Prince William and Kate Middleton have asked 200 friends from home, school and university.

Prince Harry (26) is in charge of the post-dinner celebrations and has lined up a few close friends to help the party go with a swing. It is understood that he has asked Guy Pelly -- who owns Chelsea nightclub Public -- to help with the organisation and line up music for the disco.

The event is expected to last late into the night and as the newlyweds are staying at the palace there is no formal end to proceedings.

The couple are expected to leave the party shortly after midnight before going on honeymoon tomorrow.

Prince Harry, though, has no intention of leaving at such a sensible hour and guests will be invited to stay as long as they want to.

He has organised a survivors' breakfast for the early hours for those still going strong. Bacon sandwiches and strong coffee will be available to guests from 6am.

Guests who were invited to the lunchtime reception but not asked to stay on for the more intimate evening event have been invited to a party at the Goring Hotel in Belgravia, where Ms Middleton spent her final night as a single woman.

Ms Middleton's parents will welcome guests before returning to Buckingham Palace for the evening reception.